Wider Europe and Central Asia Fellows begin their journey with the John Smith Trust
The John Smith Trust is pleased to welcome a new cohort of Fellows to the Wider Europe and Central Asia fellowship, bringing together emerging leaders working across the public, non-profit and private sectors with a shared focus on climate action and environmental sustainability.
The cohort includes professionals from public administration, civil society, media, research and business, united by their commitment to addressing the environmental challenges facing their countries and regions — from climate resilience and energy transition to sustainable governance and green skills.
Welcoming the new cohort, Maija Paasiaro, John Smith Trust executive director, said: “We are delighted to welcome this new group of Fellows to the John Smith Trust network. At a time of profound environmental, political and social change, their work on climate action and sustainability is not only urgent, but essential. This fellowship is designed to create space for reflection, connection and collaboration — and we look forward to learning alongside them as they develop their leadership and their ideas for change.”
Building connections through the online programme
The online phase of the fellowship is now underway, providing Fellows with a shared foundation in ethical leadership, systems thinking and collaborative problem-solving.
Through facilitated sessions and peer exchange, Fellows are already building connections across borders and learning from each other’s experiences of leading change in complex political, social and environmental contexts.
Parliamentary engagement in Scotland and Westminster
The residential phase of the programme will take place in the UK at the end of January 2026, with a week in Scotland followed by a week in London.
In Scotland, Fellows will start with a leadership development programme focusing on collaborative, compelling and authentic leadership. Another highlight will be taking part in a parliamentary programme exploring democratic leadership and devolved governance. This will include a tour of the Scottish Parliament, meetings with parliamentary leaders, a working lunch with Members of the Scottish Parliament, and attendance at First Minister’s Questions.
The London programme will focus on developing their action plans, as well as exploring the UK’s national political system and international engagement. Fellows will be hosted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) for an introduction to Parliament and the Westminster system, alongside a working lunch with MPs. The programme will conclude with a roundtable discussion at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, creating space for dialogue with UK policymakers on regional priorities and global challenges.
Meet the Fellows
Among the cohort is Virginia Bilici, a project manager at UNDP in Moldova, where she leads work on an inclusive green transition. With experience spanning environment, climate, energy and European integration, Virginia is passionate about leadership that builds trust and takes a systems-wide view of change.
Through her fellowship, Virginia is developing a capacity development programme to help Moldova deliver on the EU Green Deal — mapping skills gaps and creating a roadmap for a future-ready workforce in close collaboration with government, academia, civil society and the private sector.
Akylbek Bakytov, another Fellow in the cohort, works on energy policy and sustainable development in Central Asia, focusing on long-term energy security and the transition to renewables. His aim is to strengthen governments’ capacity to plan and finance energy transitions that are both affordable and resilient.
Akylbek says: “I want to help build resilient energy systems in developing countries by expanding renewables and strengthening governments’ capacity to model, plan and finance their energy transitions.”
A community of practice
The programme combines leadership development with practical action plans, peer learning and opportunities for long-term collaboration. It will run alongside our Ukraine Reconstruction and Recovery leadership programme, which also has an environmental focus.
On completion of the fellowship, the cohort will join the John Smith Trust’s network of more than 500 Fellows. This is a lifelong community of practice committed to just societies, sustainable futures and transformative leadership.
We look forward to welcoming the Fellows to the UK in January and to sharing more of their work, ideas and insights as the programme continues.